In the first district of the Northern Rukongai sits a large manor that is often confused for a military base of sorts. Like a miniature Seireitei it stands imposing over all other buildings that reside within its shadow. Though what casts this shadow is not the manor itself but the Sekkiseki walls that surround it with a singular gate that allows exit and entry. New souls often confuse this place for an outpost of the Gotei Thirteen, even going as far as to walk up to the gates asking for entry. The guardsmen of this gate are dressed in feudal era samurai armor, black from head to toe with a singular marking on their breast plate of a crimson flower. These guards stand in silence and only ever react to hostile actions against would be trespassers or aggressors. Locals in the area are quick to remind new souls who stray too close to the place about what it is and who resides within. Then there are those who push their luck and end up broken. This is the home of the Oda clan, a home constructed to resemble the architecture of the Seireitei. Most fear nobles for what will happen to them later, will their families be killed for a slip of the tongue? Perhaps walking too close to them may result in the destruction of their home or worse, their life being taken from them. However, despite the imposing building those who live near it get a sense of security from it and the Clan rather than fear. “The nobles who are closest to commoners.”
Currently flying over the massive walls of this estate is a Hell Butterfly, it carries information regarding one Yakitsuku Oda the former head of the Oda clan and the father to three men who caused the clan to be exiled from the Seireitei for a time. This information is about a position on the new Central 46 council, a position he earned due to backing votes from the 80th Northern Rukongai District. Surely the votes could have been gathered from those in the 1st Northern District but they are too coddled and weak. Living within the shadow of the Seireitei and within the shadow of the Oda Manor has made them soft believing everything will be alright so long as these two giants stand guard over them. In the 80th District strength is law, if you are not strong you are dead or you get good at hiding. Taking a sort of field trip with his sons to the Northern 80th District they “persuaded” the inhabitants to get their vote. Today is the day he will learn the results of their trip.
The Hell Butterfly drifts into the Oda Manor, fluttering about for about fifteen seconds before being viciously attacked by a cicada. It is rapidly consumed in its entirety mid-air. After it’s meal the insect hovers in the air for a moment before flying off towards the main hall. The long Japanese styled hall was lit by candles placed on each pillar with more lining the walls of it, it is vaguely similar to that of the Captain’s hall with a singular seat a black Japanese style wooden stool, this is where the head of the clan would sit if he were present. It is a humbling seat as it is not comfortable in the slightest to instill the thought into the clan head that sitting around will get nothing done. As this cicada drifts further in voices are heard, though the seat of the head is empty it seems like some sort of meeting is being held within this hall. A coarse deep voice of a man carries itself through the hall as if he was talking much louder than he should be.
The Oda
”What!? Just a Lieutenant!? Had the runt waited and came here for some training he would have gained some sort of edge in his test. Whatever he ain’t my brat anyway but this does set an unstable precedent for us!!”
Yurui Oda, former Eleventh Division, exiled for multiple deaths from “training exercises”. While the landscape of Eleventh Division is different in this day and age, seeing how they embrace the usage of Kido, this man is the embodiment of the old ways where Kido was frowned upon in the Division. He cares little for it and to this day has never casted a single spell since his academy days which are centuries behind him at this point. This “precedent” he speaks of is the one set by their forefathers ages before any of them were even a thought, their father included, and is that every Oda born is to perform at the level of a Captain once they reach a certain age. It is why adoption into the clan is limited to once per generation and was only ever used recently.
”Ehhh, what does it even matter? He made Lieutenant, that's pretty good if I’m being honest. If we keep hanging onto traditions like that we’re going to get left behind.”
The father of Tenzen and Katsuo, former Seventh Division, Exiled for multiple homicides of criminals who were meant to stand trial. In his mind criminals of Soul Society deserve no less than death. It is this ideology that transitioned to Tenzen who also has a great dislike for traitors. He speaks out against the eldest brother, being a forward thinking man he has no interest in the old ways this lack of respect for tradition is why he is currently not the head of the clan now. Not to mention he can be quite lazy. Standing by his side is a woman who was meant to be head of her particular clan but turned away from the responsibility to marry into the Oda clan. This woman who stands in silent judgement over Yurui’s words is Ten’yuu Oda, former Fourth Division and formerly known as Ten’yuu Oki. Her own fiery attitude is felt with but a stare as she eyes down Yurui from across the hall. He mumbles to himself and falls silent.
By this point the Cicada has made its way down the center of the hall, the buzzing catching everyone’s attention as it flies towards a rather demonic looking man. It lands on his finger, buzzing at him as if it were some sort of morse code. Ten’yuu averts her gaze as if something unsightly were to occur in the next few moments. A sickening crunch is picked up by the acoustics in the hall as the man chews the cicada up and swallows it.
”We aren’t here about that anyway, none of us made it to Captaincy so what does it matter? We’re here to talk about how our old man tricked us into helping him get a seat on that despicable council!!”
This is the youngest of the three brothers, Amida Oda, former Twelfth Division, exiled for inhumane experiments on his fellow Shinigami often resulting in their deaths. He brings to light what this meeting is really about as Katsuo is not the topic but rather their father. The details of their trip to District 80 weren’t fully explained to them, their father merely told them “lets go stretch our legs a bit.” He used their own bloodthirsty nature against them to manipulate them into strong arming the 80th District into voting for Yakitsuku, who had sent forewarning to the district about what would happen if they didn't vote for him days before their arrival.
Amida frowns after eating the cicada, not due to the taste but because of the information he gained from eating it. The Cicadas that reside within the Oda manor act first as surveillance then secondly as mock Hell Butterflies as they can store messages and deliver them. They can also consume Hell Butterflies to steal whatever message they’re holding and carry it back to Amida who consumes them to get the info. He learned that their fathers ascension to Central 46 has been made official, his jagged fang like teeth grind against one another, sparking slighting, hinting that they are not quite bone like as they appear.
”It’s official, the old bastard is on the same council that exiled us. So what are we gonna do about it?”
”The next time that old bat is here we beat the hell out of him for using us! We also stood against this political crap! And now we’re going to be on the front lines of it!? Outrageous!!”
Yurui exclaimed, punching a pillar next to him quaking the hall and leaving an imprint of his fist within it. No one so much as flinches at his tantrum as they all take time to digest the news. Amida has no idea how to act, far as he is concerned it doesn’t bother him in the slightest, he’ll continue his scientific work in peace just as he always has. Kyoki at first didn’t care but began to think about the situation a little more.
”Well this is a whole new batch of idiots taking the seats since Murasaki-sama killed the last gaggle. Though this could mean his life would be put at risk every time some Shinigami stands before them.”
He rationalizes the situation and understands that by being on Central 46 puts his fathers life at risk. The Oda are all for a good fight but to be outright murdered without a chance of fighting is not their ideal way to die. The other two ponder this as well, they know their father is not weak but even the strong can be caught unawares, especially if they get too comfortable of a seat.
*Sigh*
An audible sigh is let out from Ten’yuu, the first sound she has made since this “meeting” began and it was the sound of annoyance.
”Think about the prestige this will bring to the clan. For the first time since you got exiled this clan will begin to shine. There is an Oda as captain and another as a Lieutenant and now one of us is on Central 46. No longer will we be looked upon as barbarians but instead commoners will avert their eyes when we pass them. Other small clans may even come to us to train their ilk to potentially achieve what we have already achieved, all within one generation mind you.”
Ten’yuu is the only one among them who knows how to behave and carry herself as a proper noble. Her nickname, The Empress, is a reflection of this; she is a diamond in a heap of coal that has the potential to shine as bright as her, should they allow themselves to. Amida is once again indifferent to this as he already knows he’ll be locked away from the public eye in his lab as always. Kyoki, dare not oppose his wife's words as she seems quite serious about this and he knows better than anyone that she has been waiting for the chance to make the Oda into a proper clan. Yurui on the other hand is not amused as he storms over towards her, his seven-foot frame towering over her with a crazed look on his face. When he speaks his voice remains coarse but low, almost menacing.
”Understand one thing woman, you may have Oda in your name but you are not blood. We aren’t some pet project for you to manipulate and change to fit that pathetically weak mold you other nobles come from. We were born strong, raised to be strong. We yield to no one. We kill to kill again, killing all. What part of that makes you think we want to appeal to their standards?”
Unphased and unshaken by her brother-in-law, Ten'yuu stares at him, offended by his words. She is offended that he would think she sought to change anything about the clan, perhaps why she married into the clan was to escape such things.
”There is prestige in blood, brother. Respect can be earned once enough blood has been spilled and the Oda name has spilled plenty. While other clans shine with their skeletons tucked away in their fancy closets we will shine atop a mountain of bones. Fear is more potent when they know you don’t lie.”
She plans to use her knowledge of clan politics against itself, to be a presence not afraid to bare its fangs. The clan is disgraced, from the point of view of others, they have fallen low and they have nothing to lose. Her goal for now is small, shine and gain dominance over smaller noble houses, compile them and add their bones to their mountain and maybe, just maybe, that mountain may be large enough to swallow one of the four major families of the Soul Society. She turns away from Yurui and begins to walk out with Kyoki following her, giving his brother a light punch to the chest.
”Sounds like we might start having fun again.”
Yurui relaxes himself for a moment with his demonic grin returning shortly after as he agrees with Kyoki, things may start spicing up for them once again. In the background Amida sneaks out without saying a word, he knows his course in life. As Kyoki and Ten’yuu walk back to their own personal residence on the Oda grounds she makes a comment to Kyoki about his brother.
”You know, the bad thing about having good muscle definition is that it makes it easier to know where to cut them. Someone should tell Yurui that.”
”Yeah, but he’ll add that to a reason to get a new scar. He’s got Tenzen believing scars are badges of honor or something. They’re ugly in my opinion.”
